The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-06-01
Caledonia County.
Hardwick.

THE way freight going east was wrecked in
a washout half a mile west of this village at
three o'clock P. NJ. last Friday, resulting in
the immediate death of Henry Tatro dire
NAM, fatal injuries to Y. G.. Chappell lem
gineer) and erious and dangerous injury to
w. ID. Welcomb (conductor), all residents
of SwantOn. The engineer died at ten p.
NJ, one leg being badly crushed and broken
in several places, with probable internal in
juries. Tatro was thrown against the head
of the boiler and nearly buried with coal
His head was crushed and he was terribly
burned, mainly by escaping steam. Wei
comb, the conductor, received a terrible
wound on his right leg above the knee,
some ten inches in length, but if no other
and more serious injury is developed, he
may recover. Medical aid was summoned
from st. Johnsbury, and Drs Brown and
Calderwood responded. DR.. Fairman of
Wolcott was also in attendance, who, with
our local physicians, Drs. Darling and
Ward assisted by the many willing hands
of our citizens, did all possible to relieve
the suffering and unfortunate men. We'll
comb was taken to st. Johnsbury in the
evening, to be cared for by his friends re.
siding there. All the injured men were
riding upon the engine. The brakeman
and one passenger, being at the rear end of
the train, escaped with slight bruises. The
accident was caused by washout about
twelve rods north of " Eaton" brook cul-
vert, caused by the latter culvert becoming
clogged by driftwood incident to the sud
den and unprecedented rise of that stream
resulting from very heavy thunder-storms.
| The volume and force of the water thus
confined by the railroad embankment, fol-
lowing the course of small culvert, soon
cut clear passage through, some twenty
| five feet long and fifteen feet deep. Into
this the train, without warning or possible
notice, plunged at the usually high rate of
| speed at this point made necessary by the
| high grade and curves succeeding to the east
ward. The engine jumped the chasm, but
burrowed in its southern bank, badly
wrecked. The tender and three cars laden
| with lumber were pretty thoroughly demol-
ished, and the fourth was derailed and
thrown off the embankment. Two more
cars, though remaining on the track, were
crushed and badly damaged at the ends,
while the remaining three cars sustained no
material damage. No blame for the sad
event seems attachable to any one, as no
foresight or care on the part of the track
men could have availed, unless they could
have been at the place Immediately preced-
ing the arrival of the train We under
stand the section-men passed over the line
but short time previous, when all was
right and safe as any part of the road and
no apprehension has existed that such an
accident might happen at this point. The
unusual severity of the storm, for more
than two hours pouring its deluge of waters
upon the region drained by this stream,
Hdue bne event possible, ana FULLY explains
the cause. The railroad officials were
promptly on hand as soon as special train
could bring them with a large force of
men, to clear the wreck and make all
needed arrangements for the wounded men.
We understand the causes of the accident
are being investigated by the state railroad
commission. The work of clearing away
the debris of the wrecked train was prose-
cuted through the night following the ac.
cident, and the track was connected and
open for business at half-past nine A. NJ
Saturday. The bodies of Tatro and Chap.
pell were taken TO Swanton by the morning
express, as soon as repairs on the track
were completed. - The heated tern
closed on Friday with a series of severe
thunder-storms rarely equalled for electrical
display and terrific thunder. In some sec
tions of the town the fall of water and hal
was enormous. Roads are badly washed
and many small bridges swept away. -
n. Cloutier is operating the road-machin,
again this year and considerable work ha.
been done the past week 80 w. j. Per
rim has bought Miss Celia Sinclairs resi-
dence and land connected Herewith il
this village, also the pasture and Woo
land south of the village. Price reported
about 81 600 with possession given some
time next autumn. - Daniel Nichols
hog-house, near and in the rear of his farm
house, was damaged by lightning May 26th
1t was discovered in season to extinguisl
an incipient fire, which in few minute
would have seriously endangered valua
BILE set of farm buildings. A barn OF